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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
AN EPITAPH, by ROSELLE MERCIER MONTGOMERY Poet's Biography
First Line: She was too delicate to give or take
Last Line: Death asked of her to make no compromise!
Subject(s): Death; Epitaphs; Dead, The
First Line: She was too delicate to give or take
Last Line: Death asked of her to make no compromise!
Subject(s): Death; Epitaphs; Dead, The
SHE was too delicate to give or take
Life's rough ripostes—face its vulgarities;
Too proud to yield in base compliances
To its demands; she would not deign to make
Concessions, for her own advantage sake,
To the dark gods of Favor; or appease
Success, Life's lackey, with a lackey's fees—
Her alabaster box she would not break!
Life's wine, for her, must pass a finer sieve
Ere she would taste its sweetness—she disdained
To quaff—or lift—its chalice ... all unstrained!
And so ... she passed, who would not stoop to live—
Serene, aloof, and smiling now, she lies ...
Death asked of her to make no compromise!
Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!
Other Poems of Interest...
A FRIEND KILLED IN THE WAR by ANTHONY HECHT
FOR JAMES MERRILL: AN ADIEU by ANTHONY HECHT
TARANTULA: OR THE DANCE OF DEATH by ANTHONY HECHT
CHAMPS D?ÇÖHONNEUR by ERNEST HEMINGWAY
NOTE TO REALITY by TONY HOAGLAND
A DESERTED HOUSE by ROSELLE MERCIER MONTGOMERY